Shadow and Flame

A lone, pearl white alicorn gracefully moved between the statues and slim well maintained trees of the Canterlot Gardens beneath the faint glow of the moon.

She stopped for a moment to look at an empty pedestal, a brow twitching in surprise and concern before she smiled and shook her head, remembering where the statue had been taken to. Celestia sighed and approached the empty pedestal contemplating why it was she hadn’t ordered the pedestal removed.

Not having enough time to really think was her internal answer to her internal question.

The Princesses had been hard pressed ever since the incident in the skies of Canterlot, Celestia doing her utmost to keep everypony calm and Luna working day and night to keep information flowing across the battlefields of the world.

The two weeks after the aeon’s first appearance had been uneasy, with a new threat looming and the world seeing their beloved sun princess using her powers for harm.

Of course the majority had called her a protector, her sister as well, their love for her growing with the knowledge that no matter the occasion she was there for her people. The minority however, many of them being from the aristocracy, had their reservations about this new aggressive side of Celestia, the younger sister they had expected it from, but not from the elder.

These ponies had spread rumors and attempted to dig into past events best left to collect dust. Celestia of course hadn’t been able to so much as raise a hoof to stop the trouble makers as that would have just given them more reason to dissent.

In a way the war did her some good, as the aeon’s appearance into the limelight took the heat off of her and brought it on to the war that was now raging back and forth across the continent.

Not that she was happy with the war.

Celestia was anything but. She hated the conflict and bloodshed, understanding that it was necessary but not taking any joy from it.

The white alicorn did however take solace in comforting the kingdom on a daily basis, as she had been set up with the help of her leagues of pony aides to lead a propaganda campaign, keeping the spirits of civilians and soldiers as high as possible, portraying the Aeon as helpful guardians, painting the Nightmares as sick traitors and showing signing up to the military as being the highest of honors.

Celestia turned her head, causing her ethereal mane to change it’s direction of flow as she watched an Aeon silhouette approach her, the bottom of a long coat flapping as their feet moved smoothly across the stone brick pavings. Moonlight glinted across smooth armour plates on either arm and off of their long silver hair and a white strip across the front of their mask, where the eye holes would be on a normal mask, glowed dimly.

As they came closer, it became clear that not a single piece of skin was visible, their hands covered in gloves and their neck hidden by their hair and the large collar of their coat as well as the fact that they were heavily armed as the various weapons they carried beneath the midnight black cloak and straps holding a pair of longswords to their back glinted in the dim light.

Once they were a metres distance from the princess they stopped walking and spoke, a synthetic touch to their voice.

“Your highness, shouldn’t you be asleep? It’s another bright day tomorrow and the people won’t think too highly if you have bags under your eyes.” The aeon spoke as if ae knew the princess even though she was sure she had never met this heavily armed individual before.

For a moment she wondered why this particular aeon hid under layers of cloth and steel while most other aeon wore simple clothes that showed off their arms and never hid their faces when out of combat.

She decided to shrug it off as a quirk and turned her attention to the pedestal once more.

“I think I can go for one night with a little less rest.” The alicorn’s voice spoke with soft authority though had a detached sound to it. “I assume you are the one I had asked for?”

“If what you asked for was ‘An important individual from the Starlit Bane.’ then yeah that’s me.” There was a click and a hiss followed by the sound of fabric and armour moving. “Dusktreader of the first degree, founder of the elite force ‘Aeos’ Fist’ and high field commander of the Aeon Empire, Daedalus Narius at your most humble service.” Celestia looked back at Daedalus seeing that they were now kneeling and their mask was in their hand, though their face was still hidden behind their hair as their head was bowed. “How may I aid you?”

“I’m afraid you might not be the individual I’m looking for.” She said plainly, her mind slightly in another place. “Please, rise.”

The aeon snorted then stood, flicking their hair out of their face, revealing a face as unblemished as almost every other aeon Celestia had laid eyes on.

Rather anti-climatic was the princesses assessment of the hidden face though she figured that there was some important reason for Daedalus wrapping aerself up so thoroughly.

“Well then you should have been more specific on what it is you wanted an important individual for.” Daedalus said, the synthetic undertone gone with the mask.

“I simply didn’t want what I was asking for to somehow become public by a slip of the tongue or some such.”

The aeon laughed and looked back at the princess. “If it’s underhanded then I’m the aeon for the job. How about you tell me what you need and if I turn out not to be cut out for the job, I’ll pull a few strings and make sure someone who is gets straight on to it.”

Celestia sat on the pavement and sighed, something Daedalus hadn’t been expecting, causing aer to look rather uncomfortable for a moment.

“There are six ponies who are very important to both all of Equestria and myself.” Celestia began, looking up to meet Daedalus’ eyes. “They joined the Equestrian military soon after recruitment had begun and when they did they were separated because of their differing skills.”

Daedalus rose an eyebrow, unsure of where this was going. “I would have asked my sister to take care of this but she’s far too busy. I let it slide when they first joined as I knew my dear pupil wouldn’t appreciate interference or special treatment but now something terrible has happened to one of these six and I want someone to bring them back together and look after them.” Celestia paused in her speech to sigh.

Daedalus mouthed a few words to aerself then took advantage of the lapse in speech to jump to a conclusion. “These six ponies wouldn’t happen to be the ‘Elements of Harmony’ I’ve heard tell of would they?”

Celestia nodded not feeling any need to speak.

“Why were they separated in the first place?” Daedalus said more to aerself than to Celestia rubbing aer chin and looking at the ground. “Don’t they need to be in ‘harmony’ or something like that to work?” The aeon glanced up at Celestia to see her nod again, causing Daedalus to say a rather foul sounding word under aer breath before saying, “Well someone’s going down the chain of command hard and fast.”

“What do you mean by that?” The white alicorn finally said.

“I mean someone in the command chain thought it a good idea to split the Elements up, therefore making them useless, the elements not the bearers, and for that act of extreme stupidity they’re going to get kicked out of their position and probably stripped of their honor if they can’t prove it as an honest mistake.” Daedalus turned sharply and stood at attention before the sun goddess. “Your highness I’ll take care of everything, if you could just divulge the names of the six I can track them down and help them as best I can.”

“Thank you Daedalus.” Celestia said with a faint smile. “Their names are; Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.”

“Pinkie Pie? As in Pinkamena?” The aeon scratched the side of aer face and glared at the ground. “I take it that’s the very bad thing huh?”

Celestia nodded. “Yes. And don’t worry, Luna was the one who told me so that particular piece of bad news is still under wraps.”

Daedalus nodded and bowed again. “I shall take my leave your highness and begin preparations immediately.”

“Thank you again Daedalus.” Celestia said as the aeon turned and walked quickly away into the darkness, replacing their mask onto their face.

Once she was sure the aeon had left earshot she turned to a particularly dark patch of shadows.

“You can come out Luna, there’s no need to hide during your beautiful night.”

The shadows swirled and the night princess slowly stepped out, pure darkness trailing off of her body as the spell was dispersed.

“Please forgive me for eavesdropping dearest sister.” She said with her head bowed. “I was just wandering the gardens when I heard you talking with the aeon.”

Celestia smiled warmly and stood to trot over to her younger sibling and hugged her. “Think nothing of it Lulu, you always were the inquisitive one.”

Luna snorted over her sister's shoulder, playfully annoyed by her pet name.

As they parted from the hug Luna seemed to study Celestia’s face for a moment before speaking again.

“The aeon was right. You should get some sleep, you look very tired.”

“Oh Luna we both know the kind of tired I am can’t be cured by a few short hours in bed.” The larger alicorn’s smile became a little sad. “I guess you must have to be going to another meeting soon.”

Luna smiled back. “Not for another hour. New tacticians from the aeon are coming from one of their flying towns and it will be awhile before they arrive.”

Celestia’s smile brightened again. “Oh excellent. Would you like to sit with me and watch the stars? It has been so terribly long since we’ve done that together.”

Luna blinked momentarily, her smile disappearing as she hadn’t expecting the request but a large grin sprang back on to her mouth as she processed what her elder sister had just said.

“I would love to stargaze with you dear sister, it has indeed been a long time.” The dark alicorn shuffled over to sit beside her sister who draped a wing over her shoulders holding her against her side.

“Not since you came back to me.” Celestia replied somberly.

Luna rested her head against Celestia’s shoulder while she traced her eyes over the stars she already knew better than any other living being.

“I promise I won’t ever leave again.”

“And I won’t ever send you away again.”

The two celestial sisters sat side by side wordlessly taking comfort in each others presence, unaware that beyond Luna’s beautiful curtain of light foul machinations were beginning to turn.